Personal Statements

The personal statement on a UCAS form is a chance to convince the people who pick who they want for their courses that there’s more to you than exams and a date of birth.

Many universities have given up doing interviews (some never did) because, as student numbers have increased and funding’s become scarcer, they simply don’t have the time. That means the 47 lines in the personal statement are increasingly the best and only chance to convince anyone you’re the right person for the course. No pressure.

Never be afraid to sell yourself and big up your wondrous attributes and talents. Work on the basis that, if you don’t think you’re great, why would anyone else?

We can’t tell you what to put in your statement – really, it’s whatever you’ve got to offer – but here are some useful dos, don’ts and what-are-you thinking-ofs that may help:​

WRITE, REVISE AND REWRITE

​DON'T BE IRRELEVANT

DON'T WASTE WORDS

STAND OUT FROM THE REST

BE ORIGINAL

DON'T LEAVE IT BLACK

MAKING YOUR INTERESTS COUNT

MAKING YOUR FAILURES SOUND GREAT

DON'T EXAGGERATE

PERSONAL STATEMENT: A CHECK LIST

​WRITE, REVISE AND REWRITE

​Don’t just type the first thing that pops into your head directly on the form. Write a first draft on a separate piece of paper then ask teachers, parents and friends for their feedback. Then go away and rewrite it. Get some more feedback. Write it again. Repeat this until they get annoyed with you. Then type it up in the electronic version, run it through a spell checker, and pat yourself on the back. Don't forget to click on 'save' before you get too excited - if you don't do that, all your hard work will disappear quicker than you can say 'oops'.

DON'T BE IRRELEVANT

As is this sentence. It’s annoying when you have to read something that is irrelevant and saying things that are irrelevant is simply that. Irrelevant.Focus on what’s appropriate to your application. Don’t repeat things. Don’t waffle. Don’t repeat things.Show them – don’t tell them – about how enthusiastic you are about your chosen subject (even if you’re not). In other words, say what you’ve done in your spare time that relates to it.For instance, if you want to do zoology, don’t say you’re passionate about animals (apart from anything else, they may get the wrong idea). Instead, say that you’ve had 93 pets since you were three (and very few of them died owing to your neglect).If necessary, point out the relevance of your spare time activities to your application.Explain how doing your course would relate to future ambitions. (eg. “I hate Bill Oddie and think I’d do a better job, but need a zoology degree before it’s worth assassinating him.”Don’t repeat anything that’s already on the form elsewhere, such as what qualifications you’ve got or what exams you’re taking.

DON'T WASTE WORDS

Make sure you haven’t listed your academic achievements again.Is everything in context? Does the paragraph about your hobbies relate to the courses you are applying for?Are you stating things that are self-evident elsewhere on the form or are obvious anyway? For example:I am applying for these courses because … My name is Dave and I want to study … My hobbies include …

The space is limited, so don’t waste it.

STAND OUT FROM THE REST

​Your application is one of several hundred (or thousand) that one person is reading. Again, no pressure.This means that it’s important not only to stand out from the rest, but also to grab attention quickly. Try to say everything you need to say in the first two or three lines, then use the rest of the statement to expand and support it.Everyone knows the cliché “Free Sex – now that I’ve got your attention” …Don’t use these kind of gimmicks. Not the time or place. Just catch their attention with an opening sentence that captures your all-round perfection as an academic prodigy, deeply committed to your chosen course with skills and interests wider than Anne Widdecombe’s underwear.

BE ORIGINAL

It should be something with spark, something that will stick in the mind.Ideally that should be achieved by just having really amazing things to write about, but plain good writing will also help.Doing things like writing it as an obituary or a dating ad are normally discouraged. It comes across as flippant and probably won’t win you any fans. But something like that would be original. It would stand out.But it’s probably only worth doing if, firstly, there’s at least as much substance as style – in other words, you use an original approach to tell a story that’s even better the approach. And, secondly, the approach you use is relevant to your course. For instance, if you wanted to do film studies, doing your personal statement as a dialogue from a screenplay wouldn’t be quite so silly.

DON'T LEAVE IT BLACK

NEVER, never, never, leave the personal statement section blank. Some people think they have nothing to say about themselves. That’s not true.It may be a struggle to find the right thing to say but there are ways to arouse the thought process.Sit down with a piece of paper and ask some questions. Why do I want to do this course? What things have I done that relate to this course? How does doing this course further my plan for world domination? How are my hobbies relevant to this application?If this still doesn’t help, why not swap with a mate?It might be easier to write about all the good things Dave has done and why he would be great for that course, while Dave can do the same for you. At least then you have a template and some ideas as a starter. Dave probably knows all your great points.Better still, get someone who fancies you to write it, then it’ll be so glowing it’ll be embarrassing.Don’t, however, use their draft as your final version. Ultimately, it should be your own work.

MAKE YOUR INTERESTS COUNT

"I enjoy football, knitting and chess." - Well, so what?

It’s better to write “I play football at a county level on a weekly basis and I am the Treasurer of my club. My self-designed knitting patterns have been sold across the globe and I am playing one hundred games of chess simultaneously, including several with Grand Masters.”The above demonstrates commitment, dedication, achievement, financial acumen, business sense, creativity, intellect, multi-tasking and a sense of challenge.

Likewise, do not simply list the above skills. It’s better to demonstrate your commitment, your creativity and your intellect in the same way. If you can’t demonstrate it, be honest. It’s probably not something you’re really that stoked on and maybe there’s something else you can mention.

MAKING YOUR FAILURES SOUND GREAT

It’s never a good idea to talk about your bad points, unless they can be used to show something good.“I was Club events manager for a football team last year, but I ultimately resigned because of the workload,” would be better as “My time as an events manager for the club taught me the importance of time-management and how to prioritise my interests alongside my studies”.​“I failed my first set of A Levels and I am currently retaking them” could easily become “I have refocused my energy into my studies after realising exactly how important academic success is to me and that getting a degree is another step towards fulfilling my dream to be an IT specialist and help build computer systems that make people’s live better”.

DON'T EXAGGERATE

​Don’t lie. Quite apart from being fraud, which is illegal, it’s just too damn easy to get caught out.For example, let’s say you claimed you were secretary of your School’s debating club when in fact you were only a member. And you never actually went. Then, you get invited for an interview and they start asking about it. Academics are bright people. They’re used to hearing students bullsh*tting why essays are late. They will sniff your lies like bloodhounds on the trail of a ripe stilton.Worse still, you may forget what you wrote on your statement and start contradicting yourself. It does happen. And the applicants don’t get offers. Some departments might even tell UCAS who could blab to your other chosen universities.

PERSONAL STATEMENT: A CHECK LIST​

Is it readable?

Have you checked for spelling mistakes?

Does it make sense?

Have you said what you wanted to say?

Is it snappy?

Is it entertaining?

Does it seem too big headed?

Is it original?

Is it relevant?

Are there any wasted words?

Does it explain your passion for your chosen course?

Does it support that passion with actual examples?

Does it make you want to offer you a place?

Do you talk about the courses you are applying for in relation to your ambitions and/or career goals?

Personal Statements

The personal statement on a UCAS form is a chance to convince the people who pick who they want for their courses that there’s more to you than exams and a date of birth.

Many universities have given up doing interviews (some never did) because, as student numbers have increased and funding’s become scarcer, they simply don’t have the time. That means the 47 lines in the personal statement are increasingly the best and only chance to convince anyone you’re the right person for the course. No pressure.

Never be afraid to sell yourself and big up your wondrous attributes and talents. Work on the basis that, if you don’t think you’re great, why would anyone else?

We can’t tell you what to put in your statement – really, it’s whatever you’ve got to offer – but here are some useful dos, don’ts and what-are-you thinking-ofs that may help:​

WRITE, REVISE AND REWRITE

​DON'T BE IRRELEVANT

DON'T WASTE WORDS

STAND OUT FROM THE REST

BE ORIGINAL

DON'T LEAVE IT BLACK

MAKING YOUR INTERESTS COUNT

MAKING YOUR FAILURES SOUND GREAT

DON'T EXAGGERATE

PERSONAL STATEMENT: A CHECK LIST

​WRITE, REVISE AND REWRITE

​Don’t just type the first thing that pops into your head directly on the form. Write a first draft on a separate piece of paper then ask teachers, parents and friends for their feedback. Then go away and rewrite it. Get some more feedback. Write it again. Repeat this until they get annoyed with you. Then type it up in the electronic version, run it through a spell checker, and pat yourself on the back. Don't forget to click on 'save' before you get too excited - if you don't do that, all your hard work will disappear quicker than you can say 'oops'.

DON'T BE IRRELEVANT

As is this sentence. It’s annoying when you have to read something that is irrelevant and saying things that are irrelevant is simply that. Irrelevant.Focus on what’s appropriate to your application. Don’t repeat things. Don’t waffle. Don’t repeat things.Show them – don’t tell them – about how enthusiastic you are about your chosen subject (even if you’re not). In other words, say what you’ve done in your spare time that relates to it.For instance, if you want to do zoology, don’t say you’re passionate about animals (apart from anything else, they may get the wrong idea). Instead, say that you’ve had 93 pets since you were three (and very few of them died owing to your neglect).If necessary, point out the relevance of your spare time activities to your application.Explain how doing your course would relate to future ambitions. (eg. “I hate Bill Oddie and think I’d do a better job, but need a zoology degree before it’s worth assassinating him.”Don’t repeat anything that’s already on the form elsewhere, such as what qualifications you’ve got or what exams you’re taking.

DON'T WASTE WORDS

Make sure you haven’t listed your academic achievements again.Is everything in context? Does the paragraph about your hobbies relate to the courses you are applying for?Are you stating things that are self-evident elsewhere on the form or are obvious anyway? For example:I am applying for these courses because … My name is Dave and I want to study … My hobbies include …

The space is limited, so don’t waste it.

STAND OUT FROM THE REST

​Your application is one of several hundred (or thousand) that one person is reading. Again, no pressure.This means that it’s important not only to stand out from the rest, but also to grab attention quickly. Try to say everything you need to say in the first two or three lines, then use the rest of the statement to expand and support it.Everyone knows the cliché “Free Sex – now that I’ve got your attention” …Don’t use these kind of gimmicks. Not the time or place. Just catch their attention with an opening sentence that captures your all-round perfection as an academic prodigy, deeply committed to your chosen course with skills and interests wider than Anne Widdecombe’s underwear.

BE ORIGINAL

It should be something with spark, something that will stick in the mind.Ideally that should be achieved by just having really amazing things to write about, but plain good writing will also help.Doing things like writing it as an obituary or a dating ad are normally discouraged. It comes across as flippant and probably won’t win you any fans. But something like that would be original. It would stand out.But it’s probably only worth doing if, firstly, there’s at least as much substance as style – in other words, you use an original approach to tell a story that’s even better the approach. And, secondly, the approach you use is relevant to your course. For instance, if you wanted to do film studies, doing your personal statement as a dialogue from a screenplay wouldn’t be quite so silly.

DON'T LEAVE IT BLACK

NEVER, never, never, leave the personal statement section blank. Some people think they have nothing to say about themselves. That’s not true.It may be a struggle to find the right thing to say but there are ways to arouse the thought process.Sit down with a piece of paper and ask some questions. Why do I want to do this course? What things have I done that relate to this course? How does doing this course further my plan for world domination? How are my hobbies relevant to this application?If this still doesn’t help, why not swap with a mate?It might be easier to write about all the good things Dave has done and why he would be great for that course, while Dave can do the same for you. At least then you have a template and some ideas as a starter. Dave probably knows all your great points.Better still, get someone who fancies you to write it, then it’ll be so glowing it’ll be embarrassing.Don’t, however, use their draft as your final version. Ultimately, it should be your own work.

MAKE YOUR INTERESTS COUNT

"I enjoy football, knitting and chess." - Well, so what?

It’s better to write “I play football at a county level on a weekly basis and I am the Treasurer of my club. My self-designed knitting patterns have been sold across the globe and I am playing one hundred games of chess simultaneously, including several with Grand Masters.”The above demonstrates commitment, dedication, achievement, financial acumen, business sense, creativity, intellect, multi-tasking and a sense of challenge.

Likewise, do not simply list the above skills. It’s better to demonstrate your commitment, your creativity and your intellect in the same way. If you can’t demonstrate it, be honest. It’s probably not something you’re really that stoked on and maybe there’s something else you can mention.

MAKING YOUR FAILURES SOUND GREAT

It’s never a good idea to talk about your bad points, unless they can be used to show something good.“I was Club events manager for a football team last year, but I ultimately resigned because of the workload,” would be better as “My time as an events manager for the club taught me the importance of time-management and how to prioritise my interests alongside my studies”.​“I failed my first set of A Levels and I am currently retaking them” could easily become “I have refocused my energy into my studies after realising exactly how important academic success is to me and that getting a degree is another step towards fulfilling my dream to be an IT specialist and help build computer systems that make people’s live better”.

DON'T EXAGGERATE

​Don’t lie. Quite apart from being fraud, which is illegal, it’s just too damn easy to get caught out.For example, let’s say you claimed you were secretary of your School’s debating club when in fact you were only a member. And you never actually went. Then, you get invited for an interview and they start asking about it. Academics are bright people. They’re used to hearing students bullsh*tting why essays are late. They will sniff your lies like bloodhounds on the trail of a ripe stilton.Worse still, you may forget what you wrote on your statement and start contradicting yourself. It does happen. And the applicants don’t get offers. Some departments might even tell UCAS who could blab to your other chosen universities.

PERSONAL STATEMENT: A CHECK LIST​

Is it readable?

Have you checked for spelling mistakes?

Does it make sense?

Have you said what you wanted to say?

Is it snappy?

Is it entertaining?

Does it seem too big headed?

Is it original?

Is it relevant?

Are there any wasted words?

Does it explain your passion for your chosen course?

Does it support that passion with actual examples?

Does it make you want to offer you a place?

Do you talk about the courses you are applying for in relation to your ambitions and/or career goals?